THE BLACK SHADOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21131, 14 March 1932, Page 16

THE BLACK SHADOW.

BY JOHN IRONSIDE. Author of "Chris," "Lady Pamela' 3 Pearl#," "The Crime and the Casket," etc., etc.

(COPYRIGHT.)

A GRIPPING STORY OF MYSTERY, ADVENTURE AND LOVE.

CHAPTER XVTI (Continued.) Ann, utterly .it a loss for once in her life, marvelling at the attitude, and quite unable to account for it, allowed him to pull her down beside him ori the shabby chesterfield, while Jimmy reluctantly subsided into the chair vacated by Patricia. " Are you really all right again, after .that accident, father?" she asked dutifully. " Right as rain. Except, for this blinkin' eye. Can't see a thing without the glass, hut. it suit? me, now don't it:" He readjusted the monocle, struck a pose, and grinned self-consciously. "Topping!" said Ann, recovering herself a little, and suppressing an inclination to laugh. " What about, the head ?" " Only a, bit of a scar left, and that 'ardly shows. But it was a. narrow squeak I can tell you, my girl." " How's Millie ?"

" Dunno. She's still aivay with that precious 'usband of 'ers. And not. coming back—at, least I don't 'ave 'im, not 'for good. I've 'ad more than enough of 'im! So I'm al! alone in the old place, and I've missed my little copper-nob more'n I can say. Look 'ere, Ann, I'm sorry I never answered your letter, but it. came when I was pretty bad, and all on edge, so to speak, and —I didn't, quite know what I was saying or doing. But noV I'm as sorry as anything. 80 csn't we let bygones be bygones This, as he knew, was -in enormous, an unprecedented concession, fhat touched her " Of course we will, father, though it wasn't only—" " I'll take all the h!am°he interrupted quickly " I see things different from what I ever did before. Yes, I've learned a lot even in the last 'arf hour, through talking to Miss Grev. Ah, there's 2 lady, and a friend ! Tip-top if you like. And I promise you that things shall be different. You shall 'arve your own money, and anything else you like to ask for, if you'll only come 'oms with me tomorrow.'' He seemed in (earnest, and yet. as he spoke, he did not look at her, but- kept hi*, eye on the door, expectantly. " I can't to-mcrrow," Ann demurred. " I'm in a job, and shall have to give notice. * " I know. And I m proud of you for getting that job, my girl. I always said 3'ou were a chip of the old block, now didn't I? But you're in Captain Smith's firm, ain't you ? So I expect we can fix up for you to leave. What do you say., sir, hey!" he asked, turning to Jimmy, but Still watching the door. " Yes. I think we can manage that. Sir Alfred," Jimmy answered slowly. Ann flashed a, startled, reproachful glance at him. Was he deserting her ? Going to back up her father ? His eyes met hers, kind as ever, but almost, tragically sad " I think you ought to go with your father, Ann And don't forget that Pat will be down there." "Miss Grey? Just what I said. And she thinks Ann ought, to come," said Sir Alfred. A long hoot from a motor-horn outside signalled Peter's return, and Pat's voice was heard from the staircase. " Good-bye, everybody." " Well, you needn't make up your mind this minute," he resumed amiably. " Why not com 6 out and 'ave a bit 0' dinner with your old father somewhere? You, too, Captain Smith, and then perhaps we shall hit on where, we've run against each other b®for°, as I'll bet. anything we 'ave!" It was yet another surprise to Ann that, after a momentary hesi'ation, Jimmy accepted the, invitation.

CHAPTER XVIII. RETUBN OF THE FBOMGAT,. They dined at the Piccadilly Grill Room. Sir Alfred boisterously affectionate to his daughter. boisterously hospitable to Jimmy, from whom, however, he did not. succeed in eliciting anything to confirm his idea that, they had met before, though he returned to it, time after time. On that point. Jimmy was deliberately on his guard, or so it seemed to Ann, who was content to watch and list-en while her companions talked. The two got- on very well together, when Jimmy's reserve thawed, as it soon did. for his host showed a keen and intelligent interest, in South Africa, and from discussing his experiences there they drifted into one on estate management in England, in the course of which Sir Alfred divulged some of his own recent difficulties. Jimmy made some sympathetic and helpful suggestions, and said incidentally that there was a lot of difference between managing factories and managing land " Don't I know it," cried Sir Alfred. " I always said that when I'd made my pile I'd retire and buy a. big estate. So I did, but damme I never knew what it meant, till now. Set, him in a factory, or an office, or board room, and S'rerfred Stone's equal to any man alive, though I say it. But land and 'ouses, and livestock, all the 'unclred and one things they keep ' coming to me about every day! Well, they floor me. I fcel I'm showing my ignorance to them as I m paying wages to. And I don t. like it, I can tell you, Captain Smith." "Why not. give the place up? Take a smaller one?" " Jimmy suggested sensibly. "Not- me! I won't let it beat nio. Why, those stuck-up county folks, as won't, 'a-ve anything to do with me—poor as church mice most of 'em are, too! They'd think they'd froze me out. Besides, I'm proud of the place —and if only I 'ad someone I could trust to look after things—" He paused, reflectively stroking his chin, and regarding Jimmy fixedly, then asked abruptly: " What made you go in for the motor trade ?" . Surprised by this seemingly irrelevant question, Smith shrugged his shoulders and glanced at the sticks propped against his chair. " The only thing that' offered, sir. Cripples can't- be choosers." "Doing pretty well, hey?" " Not so badly just now. It's the busy time."

" Ah! Close parly o' Saturdays? Well, then, why not romri flown to us for the week-end, and 'ave a look round. Do you good to 'ave a sniff of the country. And (here's a. dozen things I'd like Io consult you about." "Oh, do, Jimmy!" ;aid Ann eagerly, as he hesitated. " T could run you down on Saturday afternoon—" Her father turned his blue eye on her. "So you could —if you're set. on not coming back with me to-morrow." " I've told you that I must finish my week, father. ' I've two engagements tomorrow, and another on Saturday morning." ' Eight, you are, my girl! Business is business every time. Well, what about it, Smith ?" " Thanks very much, sir. L'd like to come down if I can get. back in time." " Lots of time. You can get a fast train from Oxford Monday morning, if you don't mind making an early start. It's less than an hour's run from Chelcombe by one of my cars." So that, was settled, much to Ann's satisfaction. Reluctant to relinquish her freedom and independence, she had insisted at once on the two days' grace, foreseeing that it would be unwise to capitulate too early.

She clirl not see her father again before he left, London. lie turned up at Speed and Sterling's in the course of the morning, while she '"'as out, on duly, ordered and paid a. deposit on a new limousine to replace thp damaged one, ■which was to be exchanged a? part, of the bargain, and created a considerable impression on Mr. Sterling. . When she got, back to the flat at night she found he had called there also, and, as no one was at home, had left an imposing offering of flowers and hothouse fruit, with his card, for " Miss Grev." Pat was pleased and touched. How awfully nice of him. Really, Ann, this father of yours is rather a dear" " He's a, jolly' good sort, if you ask me," said Peter, sampling a peach, and mindful of his new car, which Sir Alfred's generous fee for that unnecessary consultative trip to Cheltenham had provided—an excellent make, bought secondhand and cheap—through Jimmy, of course—to replace poor shabby old Susan. But Ann was perplexed and uneasy. She felt there was something behind this sudden geniality, generosity and complaisance, some selfish if not actually sinister motive. She was too ashamed of the suspicion even to hint at it to Pat, but it rankled in her mmd and would not be allayed. She knew her father so well. She saw Peter and Pat set off in the new car directly after breakfast and followed in her own car, with Jimmy and Judy early in the afternoon. They halted for tea, at Oxford, where she lingered, as if loth to start on the last stage. They happened to be the only customers in the upstairs tearoom. Jimmy, watching her serious little face, and divining something of her thoughts, sought to cheer her up. You're doing the right thing in going back. Ann. With flying colours, too, as it was your father who gave in, not you." She nodded dejectedly, but said nothin " Then what's the trouble? What's worrying you ?" he pursued. ' I don't quite know," she said slowly, passing her hand over h°r bright hair. She had taken off her hat and tossed it on a chair beside her " I'm sorry the lovely time we've, had together is over, but it's not tha f We've got to take life as it comes, and make the best we can of it. But —don't laugh at me, Jimmy—jVa ? horrible feeling that I'm not only going back myself into the black shadow —' 4 ' What do you mean by that V y Phe shivered involuntarily. ' That's another thing I can't explain, but I feel it, always, there. Perhaps you will, tco. It's like an intangible shadow of evil, mistrust, hatred, unhappiness. And as I said, I'm not only going back into it mvself, but I'm dressing Pat there —and Peter." The last two words were almost inaudible, but he heard them, and smiled indulgently. My dear child, that's sheer imagination Besides, you're not dragging them there You had nothing whatever to do with. it. They'd have gone just the same if they'd never seen or heard of you." " Yes, I suppose so But I can't- help it. I'm not a nervy person, Jimmy, you know that, nor a coward. I was never afraid before. Angry and resentful and rebellious, very often, but never afraid, even when thincs were pretty bad. And it's not for myself I'm afraid now. At least. I don't think so "

" What do you fear?' he. asked, leaning forward I don't know. That's the worst of it. But it's a sort of foreboding, a dread that's got stronger- with -every- mile -we'-ve come this afternoon." 'Dismiss it -from- your-mind-, my dear. The fact is, you're tired out. Been working too hard.- Look- -here, - let- me-drive the rest of the way " She shook her head. "It isn't that. I'm perfectly fit, and not a, bit tired But there's something else 'hat I'm ashamed to confess, though it's trim. I mistrust—him." He knew she referred to her father, and said, meeting h°r troubled gaze gravely and kindly: " Don't do that, Ann. Strive against it. Give him a chanc°' it's our own mistrusts, and hatreds that make all the black shadows of life, every time. He's fond of you. too, in his way. From what I've s<=en of him I'm pretty sure of that. Givp him credit for it. Try to bring out the best cf him, as I believe you can." " I know him, you don't," she said, with a sigh, then, prompted by a queer expression she read in his face," added quickly:— "Jimmy! Have you really met him before, as he says He hesitated, then nodded. ''You have! When? Where?" " Perhaps I'll tell you some day, Ann. I'd rather not now. And I don't want him to remember either, yet. Ha won't until I choose to help him. You won't give me away to him ? ' " Of course, I won't," she assured him. " It's a good many years ago, and not a pleasant memory—for me, at any rate, nor for him, I think. Curiously enough, he seems to have taken a liking to ra£ now." " I saw that when he asked you down. I was surprised, but awfully glad, as you know."' " Would it surprise you more to know that he offered me the post of agent yesterday ?" " Jimmy! To come down and live with U 3 ? " " To live at certainly. We haven't discussed details yet, a=, to whether I'm to live in the house, and so on. We shall do that to morrow, and if I accept I shall give my week's notice to Stirling on Mondav."

"Oh, von must—you will accept!" she cried eagerly. " Jimmy darling, I shan't mind anything if you're there!" " Think I shall scare away your black shadow ? Then you're not afraid of dragging me into jt, young woman!" She laughed. " No, I'm not. That's funny, too. isn't it ? Put it's verily n compliment. There's something s>-> comforting about you, Jimmv. A sort of ' Air. Greatheart/ ready to stand up to anything." She stretched out her hand, and Jimmy grasped it, much moved, and more than half-minded to tell her his secret, then and there, but decided swiftly that the time was not yet ripe. It really seemed as if her forebodings had been banished, and for the rest of the run she was in happy mood. It was pleasant, too, to find Mrs. White waiting with the lodge gates open, and an eager welcome, and Smart- appearing as if by magic to take charge of "the car, and old Jennings, wreathed in smiles,- to receive her. Sir Alfred himself bust'.ed out into the hall and bestowed a bsar's hug and smacking kiss on her " Nice to be 'ome again, my girl, hey? Welcome to Chelcombe, Captain - Smith! Why that sounds like a. bit of poetrv, don't it ? Come along in, and 'ave some tea. What, 'ad it at Oxford? All right, then you and me'll 'ave a whisky." He looked very smart and summery, astonishing young, too, in white flannels, with a dark blue jacket, and a. white rose in his button-hole, and seemed still in the genial mood that, to Ann was so unprecedented and unaccountable. " Miss Grey's all right," he remarked to Ann, with a n>->d and a grin. " I looked in this afternoon, just to do the civil, you know. Wanted 'em all to come up to dinner to-night, but. as thev couldn't., they're coming to-morrow. That r s a bit <->f all right, hey ?" Again Ann felt a queer little shiver of apprehension. Was this new mood of his unaccountable, or could it be explained by the incredible suspicion that, had already been in her mind, and that now returned ? (To be continued daily.)